Cut Too Deep(48)
“Ryker, wake up!” she hissed. “Someone’s in the room.”
She flicked her attention back to the spot where the person had stood, but the place was empty, the door ajar by an inch or two.
“What?” said Ryker, pushing himself to sitting. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s in the house,” she said, almost crying. “He was here. In the room with us. Standing over us. He must still be in the house!”
Ryker reached out and flicked on his bedside lamp. She squinted in the sudden glare. “Are you sure? It wasn’t a dream?”
“No, it wasn’t. Please, Ryker!”
He climbed out of bed, still naked, and went to his closet where he pulled out a baseball bat. He smacked it against his palm and lifted his eyebrows. “I’ll go check it out then.”
“Jesus, Ryker. At least put on some pants.”
He grabbed his jeans and pulled them on. Jenna hurried after him, tugging on her own t-shirt and sweat pants.
“You should stay here,” he told her, turning back to her.
“No fucking way. I’ve seen enough movies to know how separating ends up.”
His eyes widened. “Oh shit. Mikey.” He frowned. “Are you sure it wasn’t Mikey, sleepwalking or something?”
“No! It was a man. A fully grown man.”
He stared at her, and she felt he was studying her face for how serious she was. His lips thinned, his jaw tightening. “I’d better go check on my brother.”
“I’m coming with you.”
They ran, light footed, out into the hallway. They’d left the light on, so at least they were able to see the way. Ryker quickly crossed to Mikey’s room. The bedroom door was shut. He lifted a hand to tell Jenna to stay still and then quietly eased open the door. He peered into the room, Jenna right behind his shoulder.
Desperate to see what was happening, Jenna leaned forward. She bumped against Ryker’s back, and placed a hand on his shoulder to steady herself. Mikey lay in his bed, gently snoring.
Ryker jumped at her touch, and almost swung the bat around at her. “Jesus Christ, Jenna. Don’t do that!”
“Sorry,” she whispered. “But it wasn’t Mikey, was it? Someone else was in the house.”
“I’ll check. But are you sure you didn’t just have a bad dream?”
She kept her voice low. “I didn’t, Ryker, I swear!”
He exhaled air through his nostrils and nodded. “Let’s keep looking then.” Quickly, he checked the other bedroom and the bathroom, and then they headed downstairs. They took the stairs on tiptoes, breath held and ears straining for any other sounds.
None came.
Brandishing the bat, Ryker checked the living room, Jenna following close behind. The room was empty. They performed the same routine with the kitchen, and then the downstairs bathroom. Only the laundry room remained.
Ryker shoved open the door and jumped in, the weapon held in both hands at his shoulder as if he was about to hit a home run.
Jenna followed. The room was empty.
He breathed a sigh, letting the bat drop to his side, and ran a hand through his hair. “No one is here, Jenna. You must have dreamed it.”
She wanted to cry. “I didn’t. I swear I didn’t. I was as awake as I am now.”
She went to the back door, and tried the handle. The door swung open. “Look! The back door is unlocked. He might have just left out the back.” She stood, staring into the yard, almost hoping to see someone run across it, or a figure vanishing over the back fence.
“Jenna, we went up to bed a little preoccupied. I just forgot to lock the door, that’s all.”
She spun to face him, suddenly angry. “Well, you shouldn’t have forgotten! After everything that’s happened, security should be taking more of a priority than sex!”
“Arlington is a quiet town. There’s hardly any crime rate. People often forget to lock their doors. It’s no big deal.”
She flew at him, smacking his chest. “No big deal! How can you say that? After everything I’ve told you, and the thing with the birds?”
He grabbed her wrists. “Hey, Jenna, baby. Calm down.”
“No! Don’t tell me to calm down. Someone was in the room with us and I’m sure it was Garrett. I could smell him on the air. And who else could it be?”
“Like I said, maybe you were dreaming.”
“No. I woke up and saw him. Then I woke you up right away. There’s no way I dreamed it. I know when I’m awake or asleep.”
He pulled her against him, but every muscle in her body was tensed and she put up her arms as a barrier, so he crushed her forearms between his chest and her breasts.